Improvement in cartridges



T. P. SHAPFNBR.

- GARTRIDGE.

- Nm 51,672. Patented Dec. 19, V1865.

UNITED` STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

T. I. SHAFFNER. OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

`HVIPROVEM ENT IN CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 51,672, dated December 19, 1865.

appertains to construct and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made part of this specication, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a modication of the same, differing in point of construction. Fig.

3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a cartridge with fuses and electric-circuit wires attached. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a cylinder withpradial or transverse spaces. Fig. 5 shows an aggregationfof cylinders in an inclosing case or chamber, for torpedoes or artillery or mining purposes.

The invention consists of a hollow ber cartridge, whichis made, by preference, of an annular'iorfcylindrical shape, and of nitro or gun cotton, being pressed to the required form. This form is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which F is the nitro or gun cotton, and His the central cavity, which, in the latter gure, is occupied by the fuses G G, which are attached by branch circuit-wires D to the main batterywires PN, which conduct the electric current, forfthe purpose of igniting the fuses.

Fig. 2 shows a modied form of the invention, in which ,the cylinder of nitro ber is made of sections of rope, R, attached together, each inclosing a space, as in the other gures.

Fig. 4 shows the preferable form, in which transverse or radial spaces S connect with the central space l-I, for the purpose of more effectually disseminating the re through the compressed mass of ber.

Fig. 5 shows a number of these cylinders F aggregated together, so as to form a heavy charge. 'Ihey may be made as represented, so as tofbe built up upon each longitudinally, and placed laterally against piles similarly arranged. They -are shown with a case, K,

around them, which may form the walls of a chamber, a torpedo, or otherwise, as the nature of thecase may determine.

I prefer to use an electric fuse, which is iutroduced as shown in Fig. 3, though any kind of fuse may be used.

The advantage to be derived from this mode of constructingcartrid ges is the instantaneous explosion of the whole mass, which is produced by the simultaneous ignition of the fuses, which are at different points.

I ordinarily use loose nitrated cotton in the spaces H and-S S, to aid in disseminating the rc. In this manner I increase the destructive' v force of the charge to at least one hundred times that of a similar weight'of gunpowder ignited at one point.

. The application of the fuse, as above described, in the respective cylinders in Fig. 5 as a torpedo, for example-will vastly increase the area of the explosive force upon the. sur'- face of the water, and the explosion of the torpedo thus arranged is so instantaneous that the force so acts upon Athe water as tocompel that incompressible but mobile iiuid to act directly upon the vessel to stave it in or break it.

Fig. 4 shows the typical or preferable form of the invention, in which the walls of the cylinder are perforated with transverse apertures S S, so as to enable the re to reach as large a surface of the compressed cotton as possible.

The open spaces around the fuses and the openings SS are lled with loose nitro-cotton, whichmaterially assists the explosion by acting as a connecting medium between the ignited fuses and the compressed cartridge of nitro ber. l

In some cases the cartridge of compressed nitro ber may be of such a loose texture on .the surface as to render needless the addition of the loose cotton above spoken of but, as a general thing, I prefer to use it.

The aggregated cylinder represented in Fi g. 5 may consist of simple hollow cylinders of compressed nitro ber, as in Fig. 1, of cylinders whose walls are formed of ropes or cords, as in Fig. 2, or cylinders with transverse openings, as represented in Fig. 4, the latter being altogether preferable, and the former, l

and 2, being merely modifications, comparativelyinconiplete forms, but which are substantially effective.

Having' thus described my invention, what I cla-ini there-in asenew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is f l. The hollow cartridge of compressed nitro fiber, aording, by its central opening, a space for the introduction of the electric or other fuse or fuses by which explosion is obtained.

L. The introduction of loose nitrated fiber proceeding from the fuse cavity or cavities of a compressed cartridge, for the purpose described.

TAL. P. SHAFFNER. Witnesses:

EDWARD H. KNIGHT, W. F. HALL. 

